On top of that, Boomers made a lot of people sick of spoiled kids protesting everything, while accepting everything their parents handed them on a silver platter. Many Gen Xers reflexively dismiss all protesters as whiny parasites, primarily because Boomers reflexively protested all government or business actions for decades. Essentially, it is a case of the hippie who cried wolf, until protesters have zero credibility with a lot of people. Occupy Wall Streets approach and presentation has not exactly helped alter that image; they may want to compare themselves to Civil Rights marchers in the '50s and '60s, but most of those people marched in a suit and tie, not dreads and a dirty flannel shirt.